Front-loading precision material sampler with interchangeable retracting chamber

Abstract

A bulk material sampler comprising an elongated body having a first axial bore and an interior wall, a handle having a second axial bore and a finger grip, and a shaft assembly axially supported. inside the first and second bores. The bottom end of the handle is connected to the top end of the body. The shaft assembly comprises a tip at the shaft assembly bottom end and a button at the shaft assembly top end. The button is adapted to protrude from the handle top end. The shaft assembly is axially moveable between an actuated position in which the button is maximally depressed within the handle, and a resting position in which the button maximally protrudes from the handle. The sampler further comprises means for biasing the shaft in the resting position, and a sample collection cavity defined by a portion of the tip and a portion of the body interior wall. The tip may be removable from the shaft assembly. A plurality of tips having different configurations tailored for sampling different bulk materials are claimed, as are methods for taking a sample using the sampler.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A bulk material sampler comprising: 
       an elongated body having a top end, a bottom end, an axis, and a first axial bore therethrough, and an interior wall;  
       handle coaxial with the body axis and having a second axial bore, a finger grip, a top end, and a bottom end, the handle bottom end connected to the body top end;  
       a shaft assembly supported in the first and second bores coaxial with the body axis and having a top end and a bottom end, said shaft assembly comprising a removable tip at the shaft assembly bottom end and a button at the shaft assembly top end, the removable tip comprising a first threaded interface for attachment to a mating threaded interface on the shaft assembly, the button adapted to protrude from the handle top end, and the shaft assembly being axially moveable between a fully actuated position in which the button is maximally depressed within the handle and a resting position in which the button maximally protrudes from the handle, the tip having a fully actuated axial location relative to the body when the shaft assembly is in the fully actuated position, wherein the tip fully-actuated axial location is adjustable relative to the body;  
       means for biasing the shaft in the resting position; and  
       a sample collection chamber defined by a portion of the tip and a portion of the interior wall of the body.  
     
     
       2. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the tip further comprises a sample collection cavity that defines a portion of the sample collection chamber. 
     
     
       3. The sampler of  claim 2  wherein the sample collection cavity comprises an annular cutout in the tip coaxial with the body axis. 
     
     
       4. The sampler of  claim 2  wherein the sample collection cavity comprises a bore hole in the tip perpendicular to the body axis. 
     
     
       5. The sampler of  claim 2  wherein the tip further comprises a plurality of sample collection cavities axially spaced from one another. 
     
     
       6. The sampler of  claim 5  wherein each sample collection cavity comprises an annular cutout in the tip coaxial with the body axis. 
     
     
       7. The sampler of  claim 2  wherein the tip further comprises a groove above the sample collection cavity and an o-ring in the groove, the o-ring adapted to provide a seal between the tip and the body such that movement of the shaft between the actuated and resting positions creates a vacuum that assists in drawing a liquid sample into the sample collection cavity. 
     
     
       8. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the tip is adapted to at least partially protrude from the body bottom end such that the tip maximally protrudes when the shaft assembly is in the actuated position and minimally protrudes when the shaft assembly is in the resting position. 
     
     
       9. The sampler of  claim 8  wherein the tip comprises a pointed endpiece. 
     
     
       10. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the tip comprises a blunt bottom end, a groove, and an o-ring in the groove, and in which the tip bottom end is adapted to be substantially flush with or protruding from the body bottom and in the actuated position and maximally receded in the resting position, such that the sample collection chamber is defined by the body interior wall between the bottom end of the tip and the bottom end of the body when the shaft assembly is in the resting position, the o-ring adapted to provide a seal between the tip and the body such that retraction of the shaft assembly from the actuated to the resting position creates a vacuum that assists in drawing in and retaining a gelatinous sample in the sample collection chamber. 
     
     
       11. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the means for biasing the shaft in the resting position comprises a spring. 
     
     
       12. The sampler of  claim 1  comprising an adjustable connection between the handle and the body that controls the fully actuated axial position of the tip. 
     
     
       13. The sampler of  claim 12 , wherein the adjustable connection comprises a threaded connection between the handle and the body. 
     
     
       14. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises one or more depth markings for indicating a predetermined depth of the tip when immersed in a material to be sampled up to the depth marking. 
     
     
       15. The sampler of  claim 1  wherein the first threaded interface comprises female threads and the mating threaded interface comprises male threads. 
     
     
       16. A bulk material sampler comprising: 
       an elongated body having a top end, a bottom end, an axis, and a first axial bore therethrough, and an interior wall;  
       a handle coaxial with the body axis and having a second axial bore, a finger grip having an axial position that is adjustable relative to the handle, a top end, and a bottom end, the handle bottom end connected to the body top end;  
       a shaft assembly supported in the first and second bores coaxial with the body axis and having a top end and a bottom end, said shaft assembly comprising a removable tip at the shaft assembly bottom end and a button at the shaft assembly top end, the removable tip comprising a first threaded interface for attachment to a mating threaded interface on the shaft assembly, the button adapted to protrude from the handle top end, and the shaft assembly being axially moveable between a fully actuated position in which the button is maximally depressed within the handle and a resting position in which the button maximally protrudes from the handle;  
       means for biasing the shaft in the resting position; and  
       a sample collection chamber defined by a portion of the tip and a portion of the interior wall of the body.